Contractor was active part of Hilo community

Henry Hideo Otani / 1942-2006

Henry Hideo Otani, an operations officer for the Kamehameha Schools campus south of Hilo and former owner of Fair Contracting Co., died May 26 at Hilo Medical Center. He was 64.

Private investigator Frank Lafita remembered Otani as "a real gentleman" and a "man for the community," involved in numerous activities such as Boy Scouts, Special Olympics and Hawaii Citizens Against Crime.

"He motivates people in good things," Lafita said.

Otani also had a colorful side, riding a Harley-Davidson "Heritage" motorcycle with windscreen and leather saddle bags, said state Rep. Jerry Chang.

Otani rode in "Toys for Tots" motorcycle events while wearing his favorite outfit, cowboy hat, fringed leather jacket, big belt buckle and cowboy boots, Chang said.

After graduating from Hilo High School in 1961, Otani began working at Fair Contracting and worked his way up to chief executive, a family statement said.

Among his major construction projects were Japan's Subaru Observatory on Mauna Kea and the Kamehameha Schools campus, where he stayed on as operations officers.

Otani was named Small Business Person of the Year for the state in 1986 and again for Hawaii Island in 1990.

He is survived by wife Tiffany, son Brandon, daughter Michelle Makanui, brother Raymond, sisters Darlene Martin and Mildred DeMattos, and six grandchildren. Memorial service is at 6 p.m. Friday at Borthwick Hawaii Funeral Home.